Renting a pipe to a storage system

ABSTRACT

A computing device that includes an interface, a memory, and a processing module receives a data access request from a requesting computing device and processes them to produce a set of distributed storage (DS) access requests. The computing device then transmits the set of DS access requests to a set of storage units (SUs) via a DSN connection that is between the computing device and the set of SUs and monitors the DSN connection to generate utilization information. The computing device then receives a set of DS access responses from the set of SUs via the DSN connection and monitors the DSN connection to generate updated utilization information. The computing device then transmits a data access response to the requesting computing device and generates billing information based on at least one of the updated utilization information associated with the DSN connection, a level of billing, and a billing rate.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENTS

The present U.S. Utility patent application claims priority pursuant to35 U.S.C. § 120 as a continuation of U.S. Utility application Ser. No.15/675,564, entitled “RENTING A PIPE TO A STORAGE SYSTEM”, filed Aug.11, 2017, pending, which claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 120 asa continuation-in-part (CIP) of U.S. Utility patent application Ser. No.14/468,731, entitled “OBTAINING DISPERSED STORAGE NETWORK SYSTEMREGISTRY INFORMATION,” filed Aug. 26, 2014, now issued as U.S. Pat. No.9,781,208 on Oct. 3, 2017, which claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/898,934, entitled“UPDATING REGISTRY INFORMATION OF A DISPERSED STORAGE NETWORK,” filedNov. 1, 2013, all of which are hereby incorporated herein by referencein their entirety and made part of the present U.S. Utility patentapplication for all purposes.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Technical Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to computer networks and moreparticularly to dispersing error encoded data.

Description of Related Art

Computing devices are known to communicate data, process data, and/orstore data. Such computing devices range from wireless smart phones,laptops, tablets, personal computers (PC), work stations, and video gamedevices, to data centers that support millions of web searches, stocktrades, or on-line purchases every day. In general, a computing deviceincludes a central processing unit (CPU), a memory system, userinput/output interfaces, peripheral device interfaces, and aninterconnecting bus structure.

As is further known, a computer may effectively extend its CPU by using“cloud computing” to perform one or more computing functions (e.g., aservice, an application, an algorithm, an arithmetic logic function,etc.) on behalf of the computer. Further, for large services,applications, and/or functions, cloud computing may be performed bymultiple cloud computing resources in a distributed manner to improvethe response time for completion of the service, application, and/orfunction. For example, Hadoop is an open source software framework thatsupports distributed applications enabling application execution bythousands of computers.

In addition to cloud computing, a computer may use “cloud storage” aspart of its memory system. As is known, cloud storage enables a user,via its computer, to store files, applications, etc. on an Internetstorage system. The Internet storage system may include a RAID(redundant array of independent disks) system and/or a dispersed storagesystem that uses an error correction scheme to encode data for storage.

Prior art data storage systems do not provide adequate means by whicheffective revenue metering and billing related information may begenerated. Many prior art solutions provide such information trackingbased on which data belongs to which users. There exists significantroom for improvement in the art of data storage systems to generate suchrevenue metering and billing related information.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a dispersed ordistributed storage network (DSN) in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a computing corein accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of an example of dispersed storageerror encoding of data in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of a generic example of an errorencoding function in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of a specific example of an errorencoding function in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram of an example of a slice name of anencoded data slice (EDS) in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram of an example of dispersed storageerror decoding of data in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a schematic block diagram of a generic example of an errordecoding function in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a dispersed ordistributed storage network (DSN) in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 10A is a flowchart illustrating an example of generating billinginformation in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 10B is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a method forexecution by one or more computing devices in accordance with thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a dispersed, ordistributed, storage network (DSN) 10 that includes a plurality ofcomputing devices 12-16, a managing unit 18, an integrity processingunit 20, and a DSN memory 22. The components of the DSN 10 are coupledto a network 24, which may include one or more wireless and/or wirelined communication systems; one or more non-public intranet systemsand/or public internet systems; and/or one or more local area networks(LAN) and/or wide area networks (WAN).

The DSN memory 22 includes a plurality of storage units 36 that may belocated at geographically different sites (e.g., one in Chicago, one inMilwaukee, etc.), at a common site, or a combination thereof. Forexample, if the DSN memory 22 includes eight storage units 36, eachstorage unit is located at a different site. As another example, if theDSN memory 22 includes eight storage units 36, all eight storage unitsare located at the same site. As yet another example, if the DSN memory22 includes eight storage units 36, a first pair of storage units are ata first common site, a second pair of storage units are at a secondcommon site, a third pair of storage units are at a third common site,and a fourth pair of storage units are at a fourth common site. Notethat a DSN memory 22 may include more or less than eight storage units36. Further note that each storage unit 36 includes a computing core (asshown in FIG. 2, or components thereof) and a plurality of memorydevices for storing dispersed error encoded data.

Each of the computing devices 12-16, the managing unit 18, and theintegrity processing unit 20 include a computing core 26, which includesnetwork interfaces 30-33. Computing devices 12-16 may each be a portablecomputing device and/or a fixed computing device. A portable computingdevice may be a social networking device, a gaming device, a cell phone,a smart phone, a digital assistant, a digital music player, a digitalvideo player, a laptop computer, a handheld computer, a tablet, a videogame controller, and/or any other portable device that includes acomputing core. A fixed computing device may be a computer (PC), acomputer server, a cable set-top box, a satellite receiver, a televisionset, a printer, a fax machine, home entertainment equipment, a videogame console, and/or any type of home or office computing equipment.Note that each of the managing unit 18 and the integrity processing unit20 may be separate computing devices, may be a common computing device,and/or may be integrated into one or more of the computing devices 12-16and/or into one or more of the storage units 36.

Each interface 30, 32, and 33 includes software and hardware to supportone or more communication links via the network 24 indirectly and/ordirectly. For example, interface 30 supports a communication link (e.g.,wired, wireless, direct, via a LAN, via the network 24, etc.) betweencomputing devices 14 and 16. As another example, interface 32 supportscommunication links (e.g., a wired connection, a wireless connection, aLAN connection, and/or any other type of connection to/from the network24) between computing devices 12 & 16 and the DSN memory 22. As yetanother example, interface 33 supports a communication link for each ofthe managing unit 18 and the integrity processing unit 20 to the network24.

Computing devices 12 and 16 include a dispersed storage (DS) clientmodule 34, which enables the computing device to dispersed storage errorencode and decode data as subsequently described with reference to oneor more of FIGS. 3-8. In this example embodiment, computing device 16functions as a dispersed storage processing agent for computing device14. In this role, computing device 16 dispersed storage error encodesand decodes data on behalf of computing device 14. With the use ofdispersed storage error encoding and decoding, the DSN 10 is tolerant ofa significant number of storage unit failures (the number of failures isbased on parameters of the dispersed storage error encoding function)without loss of data and without the need for a redundant or backupcopies of the data. Further, the DSN 10 stores data for an indefiniteperiod of time without data loss and in a secure manner (e.g., thesystem is very resistant to unauthorized attempts at accessing thedata).

In operation, the managing unit 18 performs DS management services. Forexample, the managing unit 18 establishes distributed data storageparameters (e.g., vault creation, distributed storage parameters,security parameters, billing information, user profile information,etc.) for computing devices 12-14 individually or as part of a group ofuser devices. As a specific example, the managing unit 18 coordinatescreation of a vault (e.g., a virtual memory block associated with aportion of an overall namespace of the DSN) within the DSN memory 22 fora user device, a group of devices, or for public access and establishesper vault dispersed storage (DS) error encoding parameters for a vault.The managing unit 18 facilitates storage of DS error encoding parametersfor each vault by updating registry information of the DSN 10, where theregistry information may be stored in the DSN memory 22, a computingdevice 12-16, the managing unit 18, and/or the integrity processing unit20.

The DSN managing unit 18 creates and stores user profile information(e.g., an access control list (ACL)) in local memory and/or withinmemory of the DSN module 22. The user profile information includesauthentication information, permissions, and/or the security parameters.The security parameters may include encryption/decryption scheme, one ormore encryption keys, key generation scheme, and/or dataencoding/decoding scheme.

The DSN managing unit 18 creates billing information for a particularuser, a user group, a vault access, public vault access, etc. Forinstance, the DSN managing unit 18 tracks the number of times a useraccesses a non-public vault and/or public vaults, which can be used togenerate a per-access billing information. In another instance, the DSNmanaging unit 18 tracks the amount of data stored and/or retrieved by auser device and/or a user group, which can be used to generate aper-data-amount billing information.

As another example, the managing unit 18 performs network operations,network administration, and/or network maintenance. Network operationsincludes authenticating user data allocation requests (e.g., read and/orwrite requests), managing creation of vaults, establishingauthentication credentials for user devices, adding/deleting components(e.g., user devices, storage units, and/or computing devices with a DSclient module 34) to/from the DSN 10, and/or establishing authenticationcredentials for the storage units 36. Network administration includesmonitoring devices and/or units for failures, maintaining vaultinformation, determining device and/or unit activation status,determining device and/or unit loading, and/or determining any othersystem level operation that affects the performance level of the DSN 10.Network maintenance includes facilitating replacing, upgrading,repairing, and/or expanding a device and/or unit of the DSN 10.

The integrity processing unit 20 performs rebuilding of ‘bad’ or missingencoded data slices. At a high level, the integrity processing unit 20performs rebuilding by periodically attempting to retrieve/list encodeddata slices, and/or slice names of the encoded data slices, from the DSNmemory 22. For retrieved encoded slices, they are checked for errors dueto data corruption, outdated version, etc. If a slice includes an error,it is flagged as a ‘bad’ slice. For encoded data slices that were notreceived and/or not listed, they are flagged as missing slices. Badand/or missing slices are subsequently rebuilt using other retrievedencoded data slices that are deemed to be good slices to produce rebuiltslices. The rebuilt slices are stored in the DSN memory 22.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a computing core26 that includes a processing module 50, a memory controller 52, mainmemory 54, a video graphics processing unit 55, an input/output (IO)controller 56, a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) interface 58,an IO interface module 60, at least one IO device interface module 62, aread only memory (ROM) basic input output system (BIOS) 64, and one ormore memory interface modules. The one or more memory interfacemodule(s) includes one or more of a universal serial bus (USB) interfacemodule 66, a host bus adapter (HBA) interface module 68, a networkinterface module 70, a flash interface module 72, a hard drive interfacemodule 74, and a DSN interface module 76.

The DSN interface module 76 functions to mimic a conventional operatingsystem (OS) file system interface (e.g., network file system (NFS),flash file system (FFS), disk file system (DFS), file transfer protocol(FTP), web-based distributed authoring and versioning (WebDAV), etc.)and/or a block memory interface (e.g., small computer system interface(SCSI), internet small computer system interface (iSCSI), etc.). The DSNinterface module 76 and/or the network interface module 70 may functionas one or more of the interface 30-33 of FIG. 1. Note that the IO deviceinterface module 62 and/or the memory interface modules 66-76 may becollectively or individually referred to as IO ports.

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of an example of dispersed storageerror encoding of data. When a computing device 12 or 16 has data tostore it disperse storage error encodes the data in accordance with adispersed storage error encoding process based on dispersed storageerror encoding parameters. The dispersed storage error encodingparameters include an encoding function (e.g., information dispersalalgorithm, Reed-Solomon, Cauchy Reed-Solomon, systematic encoding,non-systematic encoding, on-line codes, etc.), a data segmentingprotocol (e.g., data segment size, fixed, variable, etc.), and per datasegment encoding values. The per data segment encoding values include atotal, or pillar width, number (T) of encoded data slices per encodingof a data segment i.e., in a set of encoded data slices); a decodethreshold number (D) of encoded data slices of a set of encoded dataslices that are needed to recover the data segment; a read thresholdnumber (R) of encoded data slices to indicate a number of encoded dataslices per set to be read from storage for decoding of the data segment;and/or a write threshold number (W) to indicate a number of encoded dataslices per set that must be accurately stored before the encoded datasegment is deemed to have been properly stored. The dispersed storageerror encoding parameters may further include slicing information (e.g.,the number of encoded data slices that will be created for each datasegment) and/or slice security information (e.g., per encoded data sliceencryption, compression, integrity checksum, etc.).

In the present example, Cauchy Reed-Solomon has been selected as theencoding function (a generic example is shown in FIG. 4 and a specificexample is shown in FIG. 5); the data segmenting protocol is to dividethe data object into fixed sized data segments; and the per data segmentencoding values include: a pillar width of 5, a decode threshold of 3, aread threshold of 4, and a write threshold of 4. In accordance with thedata segmenting protocol, the computing device 12 or 16 divides the data(e.g., a file (e.g., text, video, audio, etc.), a data object, or otherdata arrangement) into a plurality of fixed sized data segments (e.g., 1through Y of a fixed size in range of Kilo-bytes to Tera-bytes or more).The number of data segments created is dependent of the size of the dataand the data segmenting protocol.

The computing device 12 or 16 then disperse storage error encodes a datasegment using the selected encoding function (e.g., Cauchy Reed-Solomon)to produce a set of encoded data slices. FIG. 4 illustrates a genericCauchy Reed-Solomon encoding function, which includes an encoding matrix(EM), a data matrix (DM), and a coded matrix (CM). The size of theencoding matrix (EM) is dependent on the pillar width number (T) and thedecode threshold number (D) of selected per data segment encodingvalues. To produce the data matrix (DM), the data segment is dividedinto a plurality of data blocks and the data blocks are arranged into Dnumber of rows with Z data blocks per row. Note that Z is a function ofthe number of data blocks created from the data segment and the decodethreshold number (D). The coded matrix is produced by matrix multiplyingthe data matrix by the encoding matrix.

FIG. 5 illustrates a specific example of Cauchy Reed-Solomon encodingwith a pillar number (T) of five and decode threshold number of three.In this example, a first data segment is divided into twelve data blocks(D1-D12). The coded matrix includes five rows of coded data blocks,where the first row of X11-X14 corresponds to a first encoded data slice(EDS 1_1), the second row of X21-X24 corresponds to a second encodeddata slice (EDS 2_1), the third row of X31-X34 corresponds to a thirdencoded data slice (EDS 3_1), the fourth row of X41-X44 corresponds to afourth encoded data slice (EDS 4_1), and the fifth row of X51-X54corresponds to a fifth encoded data slice (EDS 5_1). Note that thesecond number of the EDS designation corresponds to the data segmentnumber.

Returning to the discussion of FIG. 3, the computing device also createsa slice name (SN) for each encoded data slice (EDS) in the set ofencoded data slices. A typical format for a slice name 60 is shown inFIG. 6. As shown, the slice name (SN) 60 includes a pillar number of theencoded data slice (e.g., one of 1-T), a data segment number (e.g., oneof 1-Y), a vault identifier (ID), a data object identifier (ID), and mayfurther include revision level information of the encoded data slices.The slice name functions as, at least part of, a DSN address for theencoded data slice for storage and retrieval from the DSN memory 22.

As a result of encoding, the computing device 12 or 16 produces aplurality of sets of encoded data slices, which are provided with theirrespective slice names to the storage units for storage. As shown, thefirst set of encoded data slices includes EDS 1_1 through EDS 5_1 andthe first set of slice names includes SN 1_1 through SN 5_1 and the lastset of encoded data slices includes EDS 1_Y through EDS 5_Y and the lastset of slice names includes SN 1_Y through SN 5_Y.

FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram of an example of dispersed storageerror decoding of a data object that was dispersed storage error encodedand stored in the example of FIG. 4. In this example, the computingdevice 12 or 16 retrieves from the storage units at least the decodethreshold number of encoded data slices per data segment. As a specificexample, the computing device retrieves a read threshold number ofencoded data slices.

To recover a data segment from a decode threshold number of encoded dataslices, the computing device uses a decoding function as shown in FIG.8. As shown, the decoding function is essentially an inverse of theencoding function of FIG. 4. The coded matrix includes a decodethreshold number of rows (e.g., three in this example) and the decodingmatrix in an inversion of the encoding matrix that includes thecorresponding rows of the coded matrix. For example, if the coded matrixincludes rows 1, 2, and 4, the encoding matrix is reduced to rows 1, 2,and 4, and then inverted to produce the decoding matrix.

In some examples, note that dispersed or distributed storage network(DSN) memory includes one or more of a plurality of storage units (SUs)such as SUs 36 (e.g., that may alternatively be referred to adistributed storage and/or task network (DSTN) module that includes aplurality of distributed storage and/or task (DST) execution units 36that may be located at geographically different sites (e.g., one inChicago, one in Milwaukee, etc.). Each of the SUs (e.g., alternativelyreferred to as DST execution units in some examples) is operable tostore dispersed error encoded data and/or to execute, in a distributedmanner, one or more tasks on data. The tasks may be a simple function(e.g., a mathematical function, a logic function, an identify function,a find function, a search engine function, a replace function, etc.), acomplex function (e.g., compression, human and/or computer languagetranslation, text-to-voice conversion, voice-to-text conversion, etc.),multiple simple and/or complex functions, one or more algorithms, one ormore applications, etc.

FIG. 9 is a schematic block diagram 900 of an embodiment of a dispersedor distributed storage network (DSN) in accordance with the presentinvention. This diagram includes a schematic block diagram of anembodiment of a dispersed or distributed storage network (DSN) thatincludes the dispersed or distributed storage network (DSN) memory 22 ofFIG. 1, two or more access units A-B, and a plurality of computingdevices A-1 through A-N and B-1 through B-N. The DSN memory 22 includesa plurality of storage units (SUs) 36 of FIG. 1. Each access unitincludes the DS client module 34 of FIG. 1 and a monitor module 912.Each computing device includes the DS client module 34 of FIG. 1. Eachcomputing device may be implemented to include some or all of thecomponents of the computing device, 12, 16, and/or 14 in some examples.Node that computing devices 910 and 920 may be implemented to includessome or all of the components of the computing device, 12, 16, and/or 14in some examples in addition to monitor module 912 and be implementedrespectively as access unit A and B.

A subgroup of the plurality of computing devices is affiliated with acorresponding access unit to enable accessing the DSN memory 22. As aspecific example, computing devices A-1 through A-N are affiliated withaccess unit A (e.g., which may be implemented as computing device 910)and computing devices B-1 through B-N are affiliated with access unit B(e.g., which may be implemented as computing device 920). Each computingdevice utilizes a corresponding access unit to access the DSN memory 22.As a specific example, computing device A-2 issues data access requests930 (e.g., write data request, a read data request, list data request,delete data request) to access unit A and receives data access responses932 (e.g., write data response, read data response, list data response,delete data response) from Access unit A. Alternatively, or in additionto, the data access requests include one or more of write slicerequests, read slice requests, list slice requests, and delete slicerequests; and the data access responses includes one or more of writeslice responses, read slice responses, list slice responses, and deleteslice responses.

Each access unit maintains a corresponding connection with the DSNmemory 22 to enable access to the DSN memory 22. Such a connection maybe a physical and/or logical connection to enable, from time to time,transfer of messages. The connection may be bandwidth limited based onone or more of a predetermination, available bandwidth, a service levelagreement, and an economic agreement. The connection may utilize aspecific encryption to provide additional security between thecorresponding access unit and the DSN memory 22. As a specific example,access unit A maintains connection A with the DSN memory 22 and sendsdispersed storage (DS) access requests 940 (e.g., write slice requests,read slice requests, list slice requests, delete slice requests) to theDSN memory 22 via the connection A and receives DS access responses 942(e.g., write slice responses, read slice responses, list sliceresponses, delete slice responses) from the DSN memory 22 via theconnection A. As another specific example, access unit B maintainsconnection B with the DSN memory 22 and sends dispersed storage (DS)access requests 950 (e.g., write slice requests, read slice requests,list slice requests, delete slice requests) to the DSN memory 22 via theconnection B and receives DS access responses 952 (e.g., write sliceresponses, read slice responses, list slice responses, delete sliceresponses) from the DSN memory 22 via the connection B.

In an example of operation, the DS client module 34 of the access unit Areceives a data access request 930 from the DS client module 34 ofcomputing device A-2. The DS client module 34 of the access unit Aprocesses the data access request to generate a set of DS accessrequests 940 (e.g., a set of write slice request when the data accessrequest is a write data request, a set of read slice requests when thedata access request is a read data request). The DS client module 34 ofthe access unit A selects a connection associated with the computingdevice A-2 for connectivity to the DSN memory 22. For example, the DSclient module 34 of the access unit A selects connection A based on alookup of a table providing affiliation information of computing devicesto connections.

Having generated the set of DS access requests 940, the DS client module34 of the access unit A sends, via the connection A, the set of DSaccess requests 940 to a corresponding set of SUs 36 of the DSN memory22. The monitor module 912 of the access unit A monitors the sending ofthe set of DS access requests 940 to produce utilization informationassociated with connection A (e.g., number of bytes sent, amount ofbandwidth utilize, peak transfer speed, average transfer speed,encryption type utilized identity of the computing device A-2, etc.).The DS client module 34 of the access unit A receives, via theconnection A, DS access responses 942 (e.g., write slice responses whenthe data access request is the write data request, read slice responseswhen the data access request is the read data request) from the DSNmemory 22. The monitor module 912 of the access unit A monitors thereceiving of the DS access responses to produce updated utilizationinformation associated with connection A.

Having received the DS access response, the DS client module 34 of theaccess unit A issues a data access response 932 to the computing deviceA-2 based on the DS access responses 942 (e.g., a write data statusresponse when the data request is the write data request, data when datarequest is the read data request). The monitor module 912 outputs one ormore of the updated utilization information and billing information 914that is generated based on the updated utilization information. Themonitor module 912 generates the billing information 914 based on one ormore of a level of billing, a billing rate, and the updated utilizationinformation. As a specific example, the monitor module 912 multipliesbandwidth utilization information of the updated utilization informationby multiple billing rates to produce the billing information 914specifically for each individual computing device, a group of computingdevices, and all computing devices. Note that the monitor module 912 ofaccess unit B (e.g., which may be implemented as computing device 920)may also generate corresponding billing information 924.

In an example of operation and implementation, a computing deviceincludes an interface configured to interface and communicate with adispersed or distributed storage network (DSN), a memory that storesoperational instructions, and a processing module operably coupled tothe interface and memory such that the processing module, when operablewithin the computing device based on the operational instructions, isconfigured to perform various operations.

For example, a computing device includes such a processing moduleoperably coupled to the interface and to the memory, wherein theprocessing module, when operable within the computing device based onthe operational instructions, is configured to perform variousoperations. The computing device is configured to receive a data accessrequest via the interface and from a requesting computing device of asubscriber group and process the data access request to produce a set ofdistributed storage (DS) access requests. The computing device is alsoconfigured to transmit the set of DS access requests via the interfaceand to a set of storage units (SUs) via a DSN connection that is betweenthe computing device and the set of SUs. The computing device is alsoconfigured to monitor the DSN connection based on transmission of theset of DS access requests via the DSN connection to generate utilizationinformation associated with the DSN connection. The computing device isconfigured to receive a set of DS access responses via the interface andfrom the set of SUs via the DSN connection and to monitor the DSNconnection based on receipt of the set of DS access responses via theDSN connection to generate updated utilization information associatedwith the DSN connection. The computing device is also configured totransmit a data access response via the interface and to the requestingcomputing device of the subscriber group. The computing device is alsoconfigured to generate billing information based on the updatedutilization information associated with the DSN connection, a level ofbilling, and/or a billing rate.

In some examples, note that a data object is segmented into a pluralityof data segments, and a data segment of the plurality of data segmentsis dispersed error encoded in accordance with dispersed error encodingparameters to produce a set of encoded data slices (EDSs). A decodethreshold number of EDSs are needed to recover the data segment, and aread threshold number of EDSs provides for reconstruction of the datasegment. A write threshold number of EDSs provides for a successfultransfer of the set of EDSs from a first at least one location in theDSN to a second at least one location in the DSN, the set of EDSs is ofpillar width and includes a pillar number of EDSs. Also, in certainexamples, each of the decode threshold number, the read thresholdnumber, and the write threshold number is less than the pillar number.Also, in some examples, the write threshold number is greater than orequal to the read threshold number that is greater than or equal to thedecode threshold number. Note that the data access request maycorrespond to a write request of the set of encoded EDSs associated withthe data object to be distributedly stored among the set of SUs.Alternatively, note that the data access request may correspond to aread request of another set of EDSs associated with the data object thatis distributedly stored among the set of SUs.

Also, in certain examples, note that the utilization informationassociated with the DSN connection includes number of bytes, amount ofbandwidth utilize, peak transfer speed, average transfer speed, and/orencryption type utilized to identity of the requesting computing deviceof the subscriber group based on the transmission of the set of DSaccess requests via the DSN connection. Also, in some examples, theupdated utilization information associated with the DSN connectionincludes number of bytes, amount of bandwidth utilize, peak transferspeed, and/or average transfer speed based on the receipt of the set ofDS access responses via the DSN connection.

Such billing information may be generated in a number of ways. In someexamples, the computing device is configured to multiply bandwidthutilization information of the updated utilization information bymultiple billing rates to produce the billing information, wherein thebilling information corresponds to each of a plurality of requestingcomputing devices of the subscriber group including the requestingcomputing device. In other examples, the computing device is configuredto multiply an average amount of bandwidth by a cost per amount ofutilized bandwidth for the subscriber group that includes the requestingcomputing device to generate the billing information for the subscribergroup.

Note that the computing device may be located at a first premises thatis remotely located from at least one SU of the set of SUs and is alsoremotely located from the requesting computing device of the subscribergroup within the DSN. Also, note that the requesting computing device ofthe subscriber group may be implemented to include a wireless smartphone, a laptop, a tablet, a personal computers (PC), a work station,and/or a video game device.

Also, note that DSN may be implemented to include or be based on any ofa number of different types of communication systems including awireless communication system, a wire lined communication systems, anon-public intranet system, a public internet system, a local areanetwork (LAN), or a wide area network (WAN).

FIG. 10A is a flowchart illustrating an example of generating billinginformation in accordance with the present invention. This diagramincludes a flowchart illustrating an example of generating billinginformation. The method 1001 begins at a step 1010 where a processingmodule (e.g., of a DS client module such as DS client module depictedwith reference to FIG. 1) receives a data access request from arequesting entity. The receiving may include identifying a subscribergroup that includes the requesting entity. The method 1001 continues atthe step 1020 where the processing module issues a set of dispersedstorage (DS) access requests to a dispersed storage network (DSN) basedon the received data access request. As a specific example, theprocessing module generates a set of write slice requests when the dataaccess request is a write data request, identifies a connection to theDSN associated with the requesting entity (e.g., a lookup, issuing aquery, extracting from the data access request), and sends the set ofwrite slice requests, via the connection, to the DSN.

The method 1001 continues at the step 1030 where the processing modulegenerates utilization information based on the issuing of the set of DSaccess requests. As a specific example, the processing module monitorsthe sending of the set of DS access requests via the connection andgenerates the utilization information based on the monitoring. Themethod 1001 continues at the step 1040 where the processing modulereceives, via the connection, DS access responses corresponding to theDS access requests. As a specific example, the processing modulereceives write slice responses when the DS access requests includes theset of write slice requests. The method 1001 continues at the step 1050where the processing module updates the utilization information based onthe receiving of the DS access responses. As a specific example, theprocessing module further monitors the receiving of the DS accessresponses via the connection and generates updated utilizationinformation based on the further monitoring.

The method 1001 continues at the step 1060 where the processing moduleissues a data access response to the requesting entity based on the DSaccess responses. As a specific example, the processing module generatesa write data status response based on the received write slice responsesand sends the write data status response to the requesting entity. Themethod 1001 continues at the step 1070 where the processing moduleissues billing information based on the updated utilization information.As a specific example, the processing module generates the billinginformation based on the updated utilization information, a billingrate, and a level of billing. For instance, the processing modulemultiplies an average amount of bandwidth by a cost per amount ofutilized bandwidth for a particular user group to produce billinginformation for the user group.

FIG. 10B is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a method forexecution by one or more computing devices in accordance with thepresent invention. The method 1002 operates at step 1011 by receiving adata access request (e.g., via an interface of the computing device thatis configured to interface and communicate with a dispersed ordistributed storage network (DSN)) from a requesting computing device ofa subscriber group.

The method 1001 continues at the step 1021 by processing the data accessrequest to produce a set of distributed storage (DS) access requests.The method 1001 continues at the step 1031 by transmitting the set of DSaccess requests (e.g., via the interface) to a set of storage units(SUs) via a DSN connection that is between the computing device and theset of SUs. The method 1001 continues at the step 1041 by monitoring theDSN connection based on transmission of the set of DS access requestsvia the DSN connection to generate utilization information associatedwith the DSN connection.

The method 1001 continues at the step 1051 by receiving a set of DSaccess responses via the interface and from the set of SUs via the DSNconnection, and the method 1001 continues at the step 1061 by monitoringthe DSN connection based on receipt of the set of DS access responsesvia the DSN connection to generate updated utilization informationassociated with the DSN connection.

The method 1001 continues at the step 1061 by transmitting a data accessresponse (e.g., via the interface) to the requesting computing device ofthe subscriber group. The method 1001 continues at the step 1081 bygenerating billing information based on the updated utilizationinformation associated with the DSN connection, a level of billing,and/or a billing rate.

Such billing information may be generated in a number of ways. In someexamples, a variant of the method 1002 operates by multiplying bandwidthutilization information of the updated utilization information bymultiple billing rates to produce the billing information, wherein thebilling information corresponds to each of a plurality of requestingcomputing devices of the subscriber group including the requestingcomputing device. In certain examples, another variant of the method1002 operates by multiplying an average amount of bandwidth by a costper amount of utilized bandwidth for the subscriber group that includesthe requesting computing device to generate the billing information forthe subscriber group.

This disclosure presents, among other things, various examples ofoperations that may be performed by an appropriately configuredcomputing device. One example includes a computing device (e.g., anaccess unit) that interacts with and supports communications between aDSN memory 22 that includes storage units (SUs) 36 and variousrespective computing devices (e.g., A-1 through A-N). For example, theDSN memory 22 is supported by the cost of renting a “pipe” (e.g., aconnection between the computing device (e.g., an access unit) and theDSN memory with certain throughput limits) to that DSN memory 22 ratherthan by the cost of data specifically stored from specific users. Forexample, the amount of data that can be stored is throttled by theconnection limitations of the pipe itself. This setup may be applied insituations where the computing devices (e.g., access units oralternatively referred to as accessers) and/or the data accessed therebyis anonymous. As such no specific tracking is performed based on whichspecific data belongs to which specific users as in “Secure shared vaultwith encrypted private indices” and other shared or public DSN memories.

It is noted that terminologies as may be used herein such as bit stream,stream, signal sequence, etc. (or their equivalents) have been usedinterchangeably to describe digital information whose contentcorresponds to any of a number of desired types (e.g., data, video,speech, audio, etc. any of which may generally be referred to as‘data’).

As may be used herein, the terms “substantially” and “approximately”provides an industry-accepted tolerance for its corresponding termand/or relativity between items. Such an industry-accepted toleranceranges from less than one percent to fifty percent and corresponds to,but is not limited to, component values, integrated circuit processvariations, temperature variations, rise and fall times, and/or thermalnoise. Such relativity between items ranges from a difference of a fewpercent to magnitude differences. As may also be used herein, theterm(s) “configured to”, “operably coupled to”, “coupled to”, and/or“coupling” includes direct coupling between items and/or indirectcoupling between items via an intervening item (e.g., an item includes,but is not limited to, a component, an element, a circuit, and/or amodule) where, for an example of indirect coupling, the intervening itemdoes not modify the information of a signal but may adjust its currentlevel, voltage level, and/or power level. As may further be used herein,inferred coupling (i.e., where one element is coupled to another elementby inference) includes direct and indirect coupling between two items inthe same manner as “coupled to”. As may even further be used herein, theterm “configured to”, “operable to”, “coupled to”, or “operably coupledto” indicates that an item includes one or more of power connections,input(s), output(s), etc., to perform, when activated, one or more itscorresponding functions and may further include inferred coupling to oneor more other items. As may still further be used herein, the term“associated with”, includes direct and/or indirect coupling of separateitems and/or one item being embedded within another item.

As may be used herein, the term “compares favorably”, indicates that acomparison between two or more items, signals, etc., provides a desiredrelationship. For example, when the desired relationship is that signal1 has a greater magnitude than signal 2, a favorable comparison may beachieved when the magnitude of signal 1 is greater than that of signal 2or when the magnitude of signal 2 is less than that of signal 1. As maybe used herein, the term “compares unfavorably”, indicates that acomparison between two or more items, signals, etc., fails to providethe desired relationship.

As may also be used herein, the terms “processing module”, “processingcircuit”, “processor”, and/or “processing unit” may be a singleprocessing device or a plurality of processing devices. Such aprocessing device may be a microprocessor, micro-controller, digitalsignal processor, microcomputer, central processing unit, fieldprogrammable gate array, programmable logic device, state machine, logiccircuitry, analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and/or any device thatmanipulates signals (analog and/or digital) based on hard coding of thecircuitry and/or operational instructions. The processing module,module, processing circuit, and/or processing unit may be, or furtherinclude, memory and/or an integrated memory element, which may be asingle memory device, a plurality of memory devices, and/or embeddedcircuitry of another processing module, module, processing circuit,and/or processing unit. Such a memory device may be a read-only memory,random access memory, volatile memory, non-volatile memory, staticmemory, dynamic memory, flash memory, cache memory, and/or any devicethat stores digital information. Note that if the processing module,module, processing circuit, and/or processing unit includes more thanone processing device, the processing devices may be centrally located(e.g., directly coupled together via a wired and/or wireless busstructure) or may be distributedly located (e.g., cloud computing viaindirect coupling via a local area network and/or a wide area network).Further note that if the processing module, module, processing circuit,and/or processing unit implements one or more of its functions via astate machine, analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and/or logiccircuitry, the memory and/or memory element storing the correspondingoperational instructions may be embedded within, or external to, thecircuitry comprising the state machine, analog circuitry, digitalcircuitry, and/or logic circuitry. Still further note that, the memoryelement may store, and the processing module, module, processingcircuit, and/or processing unit executes, hard coded and/or operationalinstructions corresponding to at least some of the steps and/orfunctions illustrated in one or more of the figures. Such a memorydevice or memory element can be included in an article of manufacture.

One or more embodiments have been described above with the aid of methodsteps illustrating the performance of specified functions andrelationships thereof. The boundaries and sequence of these functionalbuilding blocks and method steps have been arbitrarily defined hereinfor convenience of description. Alternate boundaries and sequences canbe defined so long as the specified functions and relationships areappropriately performed. Any such alternate boundaries or sequences arethus within the scope and spirit of the claims. Further, the boundariesof these functional building blocks have been arbitrarily defined forconvenience of description. Alternate boundaries could be defined aslong as the certain significant functions are appropriately performed.Similarly, flow diagram blocks may also have been arbitrarily definedherein to illustrate certain significant functionality.

To the extent used, the flow diagram block boundaries and sequence couldhave been defined otherwise and still perform the certain significantfunctionality. Such alternate definitions of both functional buildingblocks and flow diagram blocks and sequences are thus within the scopeand spirit of the claims. One of average skill in the art will alsorecognize that the functional building blocks, and other illustrativeblocks, modules and components herein, can be implemented as illustratedor by discrete components, application specific integrated circuits,processors executing appropriate software and the like or anycombination thereof.

In addition, a flow diagram may include a “start” and/or “continue”indication. The “start” and “continue” indications reflect that thesteps presented can optionally be incorporated in or otherwise used inconjunction with other routines. In this context, “start” indicates thebeginning of the first step presented and may be preceded by otheractivities not specifically shown. Further, the “continue” indicationreflects that the steps presented may be performed multiple times and/ormay be succeeded by other activities not specifically shown. Further,while a flow diagram indicates a particular ordering of steps, otherorderings are likewise possible provided that the principles ofcausality are maintained.

The one or more embodiments are used herein to illustrate one or moreaspects, one or more features, one or more concepts, and/or one or moreexamples. A physical embodiment of an apparatus, an article ofmanufacture, a machine, and/or of a process may include one or more ofthe aspects, features, concepts, examples, etc. described with referenceto one or more of the embodiments discussed herein. Further, from figureto figure, the embodiments may incorporate the same or similarly namedfunctions, steps, modules, etc. that may use the same or differentreference numbers and, as such, the functions, steps, modules, etc. maybe the same or similar functions, steps, modules, etc. or differentones.

Unless specifically stated to the contra, signals to, from, and/orbetween elements in a figure of any of the figures presented herein maybe analog or digital, continuous time or discrete time, and single-endedor differential. For instance, if a signal path is shown as asingle-ended path, it also represents a differential signal path.Similarly, if a signal path is shown as a differential path, it alsorepresents a single-ended signal path. While one or more particulararchitectures are described herein, other architectures can likewise beimplemented that use one or more data buses not expressly shown, directconnectivity between elements, and/or indirect coupling between otherelements as recognized by one of average skill in the art.

The term “module” is used in the description of one or more of theembodiments. A module implements one or more functions via a device suchas a processor or other processing device or other hardware that mayinclude or operate in association with a memory that stores operationalinstructions. A module may operate independently and/or in conjunctionwith software and/or firmware. As also used herein, a module may containone or more sub-modules, each of which may be one or more modules.

As may further be used herein, a computer readable memory includes oneor more memory elements. A memory element may be a separate memorydevice, multiple memory devices, or a set of memory locations within amemory device. Such a memory device may be a read-only memory, randomaccess memory, volatile memory, non-volatile memory, static memory,dynamic memory, flash memory, cache memory, and/or any device thatstores digital information. The memory device may be in a form a solidstate memory, a hard drive memory, cloud memory, thumb drive, servermemory, computing device memory, and/or other physical medium forstoring digital information.

While particular combinations of various functions and features of theone or more embodiments have been expressly described herein, othercombinations of these features and functions are likewise possible. Thepresent disclosure is not limited by the particular examples disclosedherein and expressly incorporates these other combinations.

What is claimed is:
 1. A computing device comprising: an interfaceconfigured to interface and communicate with a dispersed or distributedstorage network (DSN); memory that stores operational instructions; anda processing module operably coupled to the interface and to the memory,wherein the processing module, when operable within the computing devicebased on the operational instructions, is configured to: monitor a DSNconnection that is between the computing device and a set of storageunits (SUs) based on transmission of a set of distributed storage (DS)access requests via the DSN connection to generate utilizationinformation associated with the DSN connection; receive a set of DSaccess responses via the interface and from the set of SUs via the DSNconnection; monitor the DSN connection based on receipt of the set of DSaccess responses via the DSN connection to generate updated utilizationinformation associated with the DSN connection; transmit a data accessresponse via the interface and to a requesting computing device of asubscriber group; and generate billing information based on at least oneof the updated utilization information associated with the DSNconnection, a level of billing, or a billing rate.
 2. The computingdevice of claim 1, wherein the processing module, when operable withinthe computing device based on the operational instructions, is furtherconfigured to: receive a data access request via the interface and fromthe requesting computing device of the subscriber group; process thedata access request to produce the set of DS access requests; andtransmit the set of DS access requests via the interface and to the setof SUs via the DSN connection that is between the computing device andthe set of SUs.
 3. The computing device of claim 1, wherein: a dataobject is segmented into a plurality of data segments, wherein a datasegment of the plurality of data segments is dispersed error encoded inaccordance with dispersed error encoding parameters to produce a set ofencoded data slices (EDSs), wherein a decode threshold number of EDSsare needed to recover the data segment, wherein a read threshold numberof EDSs provides for reconstruction of the data segment, wherein a writethreshold number of EDSs provides for a successful transfer of the setof EDSs from a first at least one location in the DSN to a second atleast one location in the DSN, wherein the set of EDSs is of pillarwidth and includes a pillar number of EDSs, wherein each of the decodethreshold number, the read threshold number, and the write thresholdnumber is less than the pillar number, and wherein the write thresholdnumber is greater than or equal to the read threshold number that isgreater than or equal to the decode threshold number; and at least oneof: the data access request corresponds to a write request of the set ofencoded EDSs associated with the data object to be distributedly storedamong the set of SUs; or the data access request corresponds to a readrequest of another set of EDSs associated with the data object that isdistributedly stored among the set of SUs.
 4. The computing device ofclaim 1, wherein: the utilization information associated with the DSNconnection includes at least one of number of bytes, amount of bandwidthutilize, peak transfer speed, average transfer speed, or encryption typeutilized to identity of the requesting computing device of thesubscriber group based on the transmission of the set of DS accessrequests via the DSN connection; and the updated utilization informationassociated with the DSN connection includes at least one of number ofbytes, amount of bandwidth utilize, peak transfer speed, or averagetransfer speed based on the receipt of the set of DS access responsesvia the DSN connection.
 5. The computing device of claim 1, wherein theprocessing module, when operable within the computing device based onthe operational instructions, is further configured to: multiplybandwidth utilization information of the updated utilization informationby multiple billing rates to produce the billing information, whereinthe billing information corresponds to each of a plurality of requestingcomputing devices of the subscriber group including the requestingcomputing device.
 6. The computing device of claim 1, wherein theprocessing module, when operable within the computing device based onthe operational instructions, is further configured to: multiply anaverage amount of bandwidth by a cost per amount of utilized bandwidthfor the subscriber group that includes the requesting computing deviceto generate the billing information for the subscriber group.
 7. Thecomputing device of claim 1, wherein the computing device is located ata first premises that is remotely located from at least one SU of theset of SUs and is also remotely located from the requesting computingdevice of the subscriber group within the DSN.
 8. The computing deviceof claim 1, wherein at least one of: the requesting computing device ofthe subscriber group includes a wireless smart phone, a laptop, atablet, a personal computers (PC), a work station, or a video gamedevice; or the DSN includes at least one of a wireless communicationsystem, a wire lined communication systems, a non-public intranetsystem, a public internet system, a local area network (LAN), or a widearea network (WAN).
 9. A computing device comprising: an interfaceconfigured to interface and communicate with a dispersed or distributedstorage network (DSN); memory that stores operational instructions; anda processing module operably coupled to the interface and to the memory,wherein the processing module, when operable within the computing devicebased on the operational instructions, is configured to: monitor a DSNconnection that is between the computing device and a set of storageunits (SUs) based on transmission of a set of distributed storage (DS)access requests via the DSN connection to generate utilizationinformation associated with the DSN connection; receive a set of DSaccess responses via the interface and from the set of SUs via the DSNconnection; monitor the DSN connection based on receipt of the set of DSaccess responses via the DSN connection to generate updated utilizationinformation associated with the DSN connection; transmit a data accessresponse via the interface and to a requesting computing device of asubscriber group; generate billing information based on at least one ofthe updated utilization information associated with the DSN connection,a level of billing, or a billing rate; and multiply bandwidthutilization information of the updated utilization information bymultiple billing rates to produce the billing information, wherein thebilling information corresponds to each of a plurality of requestingcomputing devices of the subscriber group including the requestingcomputing device, wherein the computing device is located at a firstpremises that is remotely located from at least one SU of the set of SUsand is also remotely located from the requesting computing device of thesubscriber group within the DSN.
 10. The computing device of claim 9,wherein the processing module, when operable within the computing devicebased on the operational instructions, is further configured to: receivea data access request via the interface and from the requestingcomputing device of the subscriber group; process the data accessrequest to produce the set of DS access requests; and transmit the setof DS access requests via the interface and to the set of SUs via theDSN connection that is between the computing device and the set of SUs.11. The computing device of claim 9, wherein: a data object is segmentedinto a plurality of data segments, wherein a data segment of theplurality of data segments is dispersed error encoded in accordance withdispersed error encoding parameters to produce a set of encoded dataslices (EDSs), wherein a decode threshold number of EDSs are needed torecover the data segment, wherein a read threshold number of EDSsprovides for reconstruction of the data segment, wherein a writethreshold number of EDSs provides for a successful transfer of the setof EDSs from a first at least one location in the DSN to a second atleast one location in the DSN, wherein the set of EDSs is of pillarwidth and includes a pillar number of EDSs, wherein each of the decodethreshold number, the read threshold number, and the write thresholdnumber is less than the pillar number, and wherein the write thresholdnumber is greater than or equal to the read threshold number that isgreater than or equal to the decode threshold number; and at least oneof: the data access request corresponds to a write request of the set ofencoded EDSs associated with the data object to be distributedly storedamong the set of SUs; or the data access request corresponds to a readrequest of another set of EDSs associated with the data object that isdistributedly stored among the set of SUs.
 12. The computing device ofclaim 9, wherein: the utilization information associated with the DSNconnection includes at least one of number of bytes, amount of bandwidthutilize, peak transfer speed, average transfer speed, or encryption typeutilized to identity of the requesting computing device of thesubscriber group based on the transmission of the set of DS accessrequests via the DSN connection; and the updated utilization informationassociated with the DSN connection includes at least one of number ofbytes, amount of bandwidth utilize, peak transfer speed, or averagetransfer speed based on the receipt of the set of DS access responsesvia the DSN connection.
 13. The computing device of claim 9, wherein atleast one of: the requesting computing device of the subscriber groupincludes a wireless smart phone, a laptop, a tablet, a personalcomputers (PC), a work station, or a video game device; or the DSNincludes at least one of a wireless communication system, a wire linedcommunication systems, a non-public intranet system, a public internetsystem, a local area network (LAN), or a wide area network (WAN).
 14. Amethod for execution by a computing device, the method comprising:monitoring a dispersed or distributed storage network (DSN) connectionthat is between the computing device and a set of storage units (SUs)based on transmission of a set of distributed storage (DS) accessrequests via the DSN connection to generate utilization informationassociated with the DSN connection; receiving, via an interface of thecomputing device that is configured to interface and communicate with adispersed or distributed storage network (DSN), a set of DS accessresponses via the interface and from the set of SUs via the DSNconnection; monitoring the DSN connection based on receipt of the set ofDS access responses via the DSN connection to generate updatedutilization information associated with the DSN connection;transmitting, via the interface, a data access response via theinterface and to a requesting computing device of a subscriber group;and generating billing information based on at least one of the updatedutilization information associated with the DSN connection, a level ofbilling, or a billing rate.
 15. The method of claim 14 furthercomprising: receiving, via the interface, a data access request via theinterface and from the requesting computing device of the subscribergroup; processing the data access request to produce the set of DSaccess requests; and transmitting, via the interface, the set of DSaccess requests via the interface and to the set of SUs via the DSNconnection that is between the computing device and the set of SUs. 16.The method of claim 14, wherein: a data object is segmented into aplurality of data segments, wherein a data segment of the plurality ofdata segments is dispersed error encoded in accordance with dispersederror encoding parameters to produce a set of encoded data slices(EDSs), wherein a decode threshold number of EDSs are needed to recoverthe data segment, wherein a read threshold number of EDSs provides forreconstruction of the data segment, wherein a write threshold number ofEDSs provides for a successful transfer of the set of EDSs from a firstat least one location in the DSN to a second at least one location inthe DSN, wherein the set of EDSs is of pillar width and includes apillar number of EDSs, wherein each of the decode threshold number, theread threshold number, and the write threshold number is less than thepillar number, and wherein the write threshold number is greater than orequal to the read threshold number that is greater than or equal to thedecode threshold number; and at least one of: the data access requestcorresponds to a write request of the set of encoded EDSs associatedwith the data object to be distributedly stored among the set of SUs; orthe data access request corresponds to a read request of another set ofEDSs associated with the data object that is distributedly stored amongthe set of SUs.
 17. The method of claim 14, wherein: the utilizationinformation associated with the DSN connection includes at least one ofnumber of bytes, amount of bandwidth utilize, peak transfer speed,average transfer speed, or encryption type utilized to identity of therequesting computing device of the subscriber group based on thetransmission of the set of DS access requests via the DSN connection;and the updated utilization information associated with the DSNconnection includes at least one of number of bytes, amount of bandwidthutilize, peak transfer speed, or average transfer speed based on thereceipt of the set of DS access responses via the DSN connection. 18.The method of claim 14 further comprising: multiplying bandwidthutilization information of the updated utilization information bymultiple billing rates to produce the billing information, wherein thebilling information corresponds to each of a plurality of requestingcomputing devices of the subscriber group including the requestingcomputing device.
 19. The method of claim 14 further comprising:multiplying an average amount of bandwidth by a cost per amount ofutilized bandwidth for the subscriber group that includes the requestingcomputing device to generate the billing information for the subscribergroup.
 20. The method of claim 14, wherein at least one of: therequesting computing device of the subscriber group includes a wirelesssmart phone, a laptop, a tablet, a personal computers (PC), a workstation, or a video game device; or the DSN includes at least one of awireless communication system, a wire lined communication systems, anon-public intranet system, a public internet system, a local areanetwork (LAN), or a wide area network (WAN).